United Way of Westchester and Putnam is now accepting financial requests from local nonprofits to support program or operational efforts. The United Way of Westchester and Putnam Community Impact Fund supports local nonprofits serving the needs of the underprivileged, marginalized, or ALICE (those who are employed but are living paycheck-to-paycheck) populations in Westchester or Putnam Counties. United Way is offering grants between $5,000 and $10,000.  

“The United Way has a long tradition of working with and supporting the nonprofit community. Through this Community Impact grant initiative, we hope to support their ongoing efforts serving the 40% of our neighbors living in poverty or paycheck-to-paycheck,” said Tom Gabriel, President, and CEO of UWWP. 

The funding can be used in two ways: 1) to support programs in the areas of education, financial stability, or health that benefit underprivileged, marginalized, or ALICE populations in Westchester or Putnam counties or 2) to support operational expenses of local nonprofits in Westchester or Putnam County whose mission relates to improving the education, financial stability, or health of underprivileged, marginalized or ALICE populations. 

The submission deadline, which includes the application and the required attachments, is 5 p.m. on May 15, 2023. It can be submitted online at https://www.uwwp.org/community-impact-grant or via email at [email protected]. 

Find Out Why Everyone is Talking about the Nonprofit Leadership Summit

Hundreds of nonprofit professionals and volunteers gathered at The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College on Tuesday, April 4 to United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s Nonprofit Leadership Summit 2023. The event, which was underwritten in part by TD Bank, was filled with insightful and educational panels and speakers, plus the inspirational words of Carla Harris, and a sing-along. Summit was also streamed live and had viewers from throughout the US as well as Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom.

If you missed Summit or are interested in seeing the sessions again, there are links to each session below or you can visit www.uwwp.org/summit-2023.

Innovation in Philanthropy

Asha Curran, founder and CEO of GivingTuesday, interviewed by Tom Gabriel, President and CEO of United Way of Westchester and Putnam.

Watch here

Yes, You Can.

Yes, You Should

Advocacy Panel

Carola Bracco, Executive Director, Neighbors Link

Kathy Halas, Executive Director, Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc.

Cindy Kanusher, Esq., Executive Director of the Pace Women’s Justice Center

Allison Lake, Executive Director, Westchester Children’s Association

Moderator – Jan Fisher, Executive Director of Nonprofit Westchester

Watch here

Collaborating in the Nonprofit Sector to Achieve More

Cynthia Knox, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill

Anahaita Kotval, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, Lifting Up Westchester

Introduced by Alison Paul, Co-president of Grant Professionals of Lower Hudson

Watch here

Leading to Win

Carla Harris, former Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley, former chair of the National Women’s Business Council, and past Chair of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation. Introduced by Michelle A. Nicholas, Founder and CEO of The Nico Consulting, Inc. and Former SVP, Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Community Development, PCSB Bank

Watch here

Learning to Lead

Leadership Development Panel

Victoria Bruno, Business Development Manager, Kings Capital Construction (BCWs Star Power Graduate and Alumni Association Manager)

Dante Hudson, Chief Operating Officer, YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester (NPW’s Emerging Leaders Graduate)

Dr. Carmen Martinez Lopez, Dean, School of Business and Professional Careers at Westchester Community College (Volunteer New York! Leadership Westchester Graduate)

Moderator — Valerie Mason Cunningham, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Mason & Rice LLC

Watch here

Storytelling Using Social Media

Christine Gritmon, Personal Brand Strategist, podcast host of Talking About Brand, and former Senior Editor of Social Media Pulse

Introduced by Nancy Eberhardt, Esq. Executive Director of Pro Bono Partnership

Watch here

Scholarship Opportunity Available

Westchester County graduate students pursuing careers in social work or public health are invited to apply for scholarship assistance through the Ruth Taylor Scholarship Fund. 

The fund was established in tribute to Ruth Taylor upon her retirement as the county’s Commissioner of Public Welfare and in recognition of her nearly four decades of outstanding service. The annual awards are sponsored by United Way of Westchester and Putnam, the Westchester County Government, and the Urban League of Westchester County. Applicants must be residents of Westchester County and enrolled in graduate studies in Social Work or Public Health on a full-time basis.

The submission deadline is Friday, June 2, 2023, by which time the application and all supporting documents must be received. 

Financial need, public service, and scholastic capacity are part of the evaluation criteria. Recipients must maintain the minimum cumulative university GPA for the duration of the award. Awards are issued annually, and students are eligible to apply if they have not previously received the scholarship. A change in major or enrollment status (to part-time) will result in the loss of the scholarship award. 

Since 2008, United Way through the Ruth Taylor Scholarship Fund has awarded a collective total of $196,000 to 92 graduate students. Last year, the scholarship winners were: Tara Battersby of Tuckahoe, Sarah Cassidy of White Plains, and Dobbs Ferry residents Betsey Goldwasser, Maura Knackstedt, Denisse Nunez, and Nakeah Wade.

Inquiries can be directed to United Way of Westchester and Putnam, Melissa Preudhomme, Program Coordinator, via e-mail at [email protected] or download the application and cover letter at www.uwwp.org/ruthtaylorscholarships. 

United, we change lives.

United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We have one life. To live better, we must Live United^®.